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President
Clinton Announces Broad New National
Support for Congressional Action Granting China
Permanent Normal Trade Relations Status
April 3, 2000
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In an address to the Democratic Leadership Council in San Jose, California
today, President Clinton will again push for a congressional vote this
year granting China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status. The
President will announce broad new national support from the nation's Governors
and high technology leaders for China's entry into the World Trade Organization.
These announcements will come during a speech on the new economy. The
President will note three key challenges to be met in order to maintain
our prosperity: maintaining fiscal responsibility; continuing to open
new markets to American goods; and continuing to make investments to provide
Americans with the tools they need to succeed in the new economy.
More Than 40 Governors Announce Strong New Support For China PNTR
Vote This Year: Today, more than 40 Governors from across the U.S.
and its territories sent a letter to Senators and Members of Congress
expressing how important they believe passage of China PNTR is to maintaining
economic growth and prosperity for families in their states and territories.
Excerpts From The Governors' Letter
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"We are writing about an issue critical to every
state, commonwealth, and territory of the United States. We
hope that, later this year, you and your colleagues in the U.S.
Senate and House of Representatives will have an opportunity
to vote on Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) for China."
- "As governors who are working hard to improve living standards
for all Americans, we urge your support of PNTR status for China.
China is by far the world's largest and most important emerging
market. The commitments China made during WTO negotiations with
the United States promise to open new markets and create tremendous
opportunities for American companies and farmers, as well as more
high-wage jobs for American workers."
- "We believe China's entry into the WTO would be extremely positive
for the United States. The opening of China's markets will create
numerous opportunities for our nation. Yet, if we do not hold
up our end of the bargain by approving PNTR for China, other countries
will reap the benefits of the agreement, leaving the United States
sitting on the sidelines. We strongly urge you to vote in favor
of PNTR status for China."
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Nearly 200 High Tech CEO's Announce Broad New Support For China PNTR
Vote This Year: In another letter demonstrating the broad support
for China PNTR, nearly 200 high technology CEO's on the front lines of
the new economy wrote to Senators and Members of Congress urging a favorable
vote this year in order to maintain economic growth in the new industries
of the future.
Excerpts From High Tech CEO's Letter
- "United States negotiators achieved an historic WTO accession
package with China. Its provisions will greatly benefit our firms,
our employees, and our industry more broadly. Since only China
made any trade concessions, it is a completely one-sided deal."
- "Failure to establish PNTR with China would give our formidable
European and Asian competitors a huge advantage in China and threaten
America's position as the global leader in the development and
deployment of cutting-edge technologies."
- "This is the most important vote you will cast for the U.S.
high-technology industry this year. We ask for your support on
PNTR with China."
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The Importance Of The U.S.-China WTO Accession Agreement:
A Strong Deal In The Best Interests Of America
- China's Entry Into The WTO Will Dramatically Cut Import Barriers
Currently Imposed On American Products And Services. This agreement
locks in and expands our access to a market of over one billion people.
China's economy is already among the world's largest and over the past
20 years has expanded at a phenomenal annual rate of nearly 10 percent.
During this period, U.S. exports to China have grown from negligible
levels to over $14 billion each year.
- China Made Unilateral Concessions. We Would Simply Maintain The
Market Access Policies We Already Apply To China By Granting It Permanent
Normal Trade Relations. China made significant, one-way market-opening
concessions across virtually every economic sector, including increasing
access to its markets for agriculture, services, technology, telecommunications,
and manufactured goods. China also agreed to eliminate "unseen" barriers,
such as exclusive rights to import and distribute goods.
- The Agreement Strengthens Our Ability To Ensure Fair Trade And
To Protect U.S. Agricultural And Manufacturing Base From Import Surges,
Unfair Pricing, And Abusive Investment Practices Such As Offsets Or
Forced Technology Transfer. Prior to the negotiations, Democrats
and Republicans in Congress raised legitimate concerns about the importance
of safeguards against unfair competition. As a result, no agreement
on WTO accession has ever contained stronger measures to strengthen
guarantees of fair trade and to address practices that distort trade
and investment.
- Refusal To Pass PNTR Would Put American Farmers, Manufacturing,
Workers At A Disadvantage. The United States must grant China permanent
NTR or risk losing the full market access benefits of the agreement
we negotiated, rights to enforce China's commitments through WTO dispute
settlement, and special import protections. If Congress were to refuse
to allow the United States to grant China permanent NTR, our Asian and
European competitors would reap these benefits but American farmers
and businesses could well be left behind.
- China's Accession Will Help Promote Reform In China And Create
A Safer World. The agreement will encourage Chinese leaders to move
in the direction of meeting the demands of the Chinese people for openness,
accountability, and reform by deepening market reforms, accelerating
the removal of government from the lives of China's people, and deepening
respect for the rule of law in China.
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